Dockworkers are protesting the loss of their jobs, under the $700m concession contract signed by Greece's privatisation agency, Taiped and Cosco Pacific.

The agreement has a 'zero' employment clause in it which means Cosco is not committed to retaining staff and has already indicated sub-contract workers will be preferred over contract employees.

Greece’s second port Thessaloniki is set for privitisation later in the year and dockworkers there also fear they will be out of work, though Cosco is not among the likely bidders. Piraeus employs 1,121 workers and Thessaloniki has 420.

Launched May 26, the rolling 48-hour strike action was in its 22nd day when workers staged their PPA sit-in with a decision to continue the action pending.

Piraeus is one of the world’s largest passenger ports and though the strike has had little impact on ferry passenger movement as crew carry out the portering duties, it has been disastrous for the cruise sector.

PPA chairman Yiannis Kouvaris, said there is increasing frustration on the part of foreign cruise ship companies and Carnival Group's Holland America Line, has warned it may re-evaluate its future policy regarding Greek ports if the situation continues.

Losses from cruise ship activity in June alone will top €12m in cash terms, if the action does not stop estimates Greece’s Association of Cruise Ship Owners and Maritime Agencies (EEKFN). Further, the damage to the image and future of cruising in Greece will be much, much more says the association.
Indeed, Piraeus risks missing out on making the most of the situation which has seen tourists avoiding Turkey and Egypt due to security issues, which has seen cruise companies turn to Greek destinations instead. What was shaping up to be a bumper season could end up being the opposite, as a number of leading owners have expressed an interest in home-porting in Piraeus could now be having second thoughts.

EEKFN has presented figures showing that just as the cruise season is just getting into swing if the strikes continue, in the month June 4 to July 3 some 41 Piraeus cruise calls could be impacted.

On June 11 seven vessels with 12,000 passengers called Piraeus. During the month some 67,000 passengers are expected, some 45,000-50,000 in terms of transit cruise liners, and over 25,000 from home porting cruise ships that would start their itinerary from a Greek port.

To now, ship's crew have been doing their best to do the job of the porters. The ROYAL PRINCESS, 4,500 passengers home porting on June 11, the CELEBRITY EQUINOX, 3,800 passengers is due June 18 for an overnight stay and to home port, as is the CARNIVAL VISTA, 4,000 passengers, on June 20.